The Milwaukee Bucks have made a surprising roster decision just days before the start of the 2026-27 NBA season.
Milwaukee waived guard Kevin Porter Jr. on Monday, according to ESPN's Shams Charania, ending his time with the organization despite being one of its most productive players last season.
The move came ahead of the NBA's roster deadline, which required teams to reduce their regular-season rosters to a maximum of 15 players on standard contracts.
Porter, 26, averaged 17.4 points, 7.4 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals in 38 appearances during the 2025-26 season.
Despite injuries limiting his availability last season, the former USC standout remained one of Milwaukee's most productive players, leading the team in assists per game while finishing second in scoring.
His departure is particularly surprising considering the Bucks are already undergoing a major roster transformation following the offseason trade of longtime franchise cornerstone Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat.
Milwaukee also made significant changes to its backcourt, acquiring Tyler Herro and Kasparas Jakucionis as part of the Antetokounmpo trade and selecting Arizona guard Brayden Burries with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
With Ryan Rollins and other guards already on the roster, Milwaukee faced difficult decisions regarding playing time and roster construction.
Porter had exercised his $5.39 million player option for the upcoming season, but the team's offseason additions created increased competition in the backcourt.
Bucks head coach Taylor Jenkins acknowledged the difficulty of the team's roster decisions while speaking with reporters Monday.
"It's another extremely difficult decision," Jenkins said.
The coach explained that the organization had been evaluating its roster throughout the offseason while determining which players best fit its plans moving forward.
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Porter originally joined Milwaukee in February 2025 after being acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers.
Although his time with the Bucks has ended, his production could make him an intriguing option for teams seeking additional scoring and playmaking.
The Sacramento Kings have reportedly expressed interest in backcourt help following Ben Simmons' season-ending Achilles injury, although no agreement involving Porter has been announced.
Milwaukee, meanwhile, will begin its season Wednesday against the Washington Wizards with a significantly different roster.
The decision to release Porter reflects the Bucks' commitment to their revamped backcourt, even if it means moving on from one of last season's leading contributors.